Energy storing flywheel assembly

ABSTRACT

An energy storing flywheel assembly in which first and second reels are operatively connected by a flexible band, with the first and second reels capable of being rotated by first and second electric motors, and the second reel that can rotate either clockwise or counter clockwise through a clutch mechanism driving a flywheel. The flywheel that stores rotational energy is free to rotate independently of the second reel in a clockwise direction except when it is eccelerated to a predetermined maximum rate by the second reel. Acceleration of the flywheel occurs as the first motor drives the first reel at a constant rate to wind the band thereon. After the flywheel has reached the desired maximum rate of rotation the second reel is rotated to rewind the band thereon. Upon the rate of rotation of the flywheel decreasing to a predetermined minimum the above described operation is repeated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

For many years it has been known that a heavy flywheel is an effecient mechanism for storing rotational energy. However, flywheels have been used to but a limited extent for this purpose, due to the necessity of having heavy and powerful prime movers to accelerate them to a high rate of rotation. Instead, the use of flywheels has been limited primarily to smoothing out variations in the rate of rotation of power imparted to a rotating member, such as the drive shaft of an automotive vehicle.

A major object of the present invention is to provide an energy storing flywheel assembly in which the flywheel can be accelerated to a desired predetermined maximum rate of rotation by an inexpensive, low horse power electric motor.

Another object of the invention is to furnish an energy storing flywheel assembly in which first and second rotatably supported reels are operatively connected by a flexible band, with the first reel when rotated at a constant speed unwinding the band from the second reel at an accelerated rate until the desired maximum rate of rotation of the flywheel is achieved after which a second electric motor rotates the second reel to rewind the band thereon so that the operation may be repeated when the rate of rotation of the flywheel decreases to a predetermined minimum.

These and other objects of the invention, including the use thereof in an automotive vehicle, will become apparent from the following description thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An energy storing flywheel assembly in which first and second rotatably supported reels have a flexible band extending therebetween, with the first reel capable of being driven at a constant rate, and the second reel by a clutch mechanism being connected to a flywheel of substantial weight. The second reel can rotate in either a clockwise of counter clockwise direction. The rate of rotation of the flywheel in a clockwise direction is independent of that of the second reel except when the flywheel is being accelerated to a desired maximum rate of rotation by the second reel.

The major portion of the band is initially wound on the second reel. Acceleration of the flywheel is achieved by causing the first motor to drive the first reel, with the band being unwound from the second onto the first reel. As the radius of the band on the first reel increases and the radius of the band on the second reel decreases, the rate of rotation of the flywheel is increased until a desired maxium rate of rotation is achieved.

After the flywheel is rotating as a maximum rate, the second motor is employed to rotate the second reel in a direction to rewind the band thereon. After the flywheel decreased to a predetermined rate of rotation, the first motor is employed to rotate the first reel to repeat the above described operation and return the flywheel to the maximum rate of rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the flywheel and first and second band supporting reels, with the major portion of the band wound on the second reel;

FIG. 2 is the same view as shown in FIG. 1, with the major portion of the band having been transferred to the first reel as occurs when the flywheel is accelerated to a maximum rate of rotation;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of the invention taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view of the invention taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is transverse side elevational view of the invention taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view of the invention taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 8 but with the locking members in a different position; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a rear portion of an automotive vehicle that is powered by the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMODIMENT

The energy storing flywheel assembly A of the present invention includes a first reel B that is rotatably supported on a first frame C and may be driven by a first electric motor D. The first reel B has a portion of an elongate steel ribbon E wound in the form of a spiral thereon.

A second reel F is aligned with the first reel B as may be seen in FIG. 3 and has a portion of the steel ribbon E wound thereon. The second reel F is rotatably supported by a second frame G. In FIG. 5 it will be seen that the second frame G also rotatably supports a heavy flywheel H. The second reel F by gears J is capable of imparting rotating motion to the flywheel H. The flywheel H due to a clutch K shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is free to rotate independently of second reel F. A second electric motor L is provided to rotate the second reel F for reasons that will later be explained. The first and second motors D and L may be individually electrically energized from a source of electric power N such as a storage battery by the circuit O shown in FIG. 10.

The circuit O includes an electrical conductor 10 that extends from one terminal of source of electric power N to ground 12 with the other terminal having an electrical conductor 14 extending therefrom to a junction point 14a. Electrical conductors 16 and 18 extend from junction point 14a to first and second electrical switches 20 and 22 that have blades 20a and 22a. The blades 20a and 22a are connected by electrical conductors 24 and 26 to fist terminals of first and second electric motors D and L, with second terminals of the motors being connected by electrical conductors 28 and 30 to ground 12.

The first reel B as may be seen in FIG. 6 includes a first hub 32 that has first and second circular side plates 34 and 36 secured thereto, with the hub by a key 38 secured to a first reel supporting shaft 40 that is journalled in a pair of bearings 42 that are mounted in supports 44 and 46 that form a part of first frame C. The frame C is secured to a suitable base structure (not shown).

The first side plate 34 has teeth 34a defined on the periphery thereof that engage a first gear 48 of small diameter that is secured to an end portion of a shaft 50 that is rotatably supported by a second pair of bearings 52. The pair of second bearings 52 are axially aligned and mounted in second support 46 and a third support 54 that form a part of frame C. A second gear 56 of substantially larger diameter than first gear 48 is secured to shaft 50 by a key 58 and is situated between second and third supports 46 and 54 as shown in FIG. 6. The teeth on gear 56 are in engagement with a driving gear 58 that forms a part of first electric motor D.

The second reel F as shown in FIG. 5 includes a second hub 60 of substantially larger diameter than first hub 32, with the second hub having a pair of laterally spaced circular side plates 62 secured thereto. The second hub 60 by a key 64 is secured to a second reel supporting shaft 66 that is journalled in a pair of bearings 68 that are mounted in first and second supports 70 and 72 supports that form a part of second frame G.

A first end portion 66a of shaft 66 has a driven pulley 74 secured thereto as shown in FIG. 5, which pulley is engaged by an endless belt 76 that extends to a driving pulley 78 that forms a part of second electric motor L. The flywheel H as best seen in FIG. 5 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 80 and includes the clutch K illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. A first end portion 80a of shaft 80 is rotatably supported in a bearing 82 mounted in second support 72 of second frame G. A second end portion 80b of shaft 80 is rotatably supported in a third bearing 84 that is mounted in a third support 86 that forms a part of second frame G. A bracket 88 is secured in a centered position from one side of flywheel H and has a power take off gear 90 secured thereto. The gears J include a driving gear 92 secured to shaft portion 66b that is in toothed engagement with a driven gear 94 secured to shaft portion 80a.

The flywheel H has a centered transverse circular opening 96 therein that rotatably engages shaft 80, with the clutch K being defined by a number of circumferentially spaced arcuate slots 98 that extend outwardly therefrom. Each slot 98 has an outer side surface 98a and first and second end surfaces 98b and 98c. Each first end surface 98b is of substantially less length than the second end 98c associated therewith. The slots 98 cooperate with shaft 80 to define a number of elongate confined spaces 100 in which balls or rollers 102 are disposed, with the diameters of the balls or rollers 102 being greater than the length of the end surfaces 98b. The ends of the confined spaces 100 are closed by conventional means (not shown).

From the above description it will be seen that when the shaft 80 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 tends to rotate clockwise at a rate greater than that of the flywheel H, the balls or rollers 102 will tend to roll clockwise on shaft 80 and bind between the external surface thereof and the side surfaces 98a, with the rotary motion of shaft 80 being imparted to flywheel H.

The steel ribbon E has the free ends thereof secured to the hubs 32 and 60. Before the invention A is energized the ribbon E wound on first reel B will have a radius of substantially R-1 and that on second reel F a radius of substantially R-2. The radius R-2 is far greater than that of radius R-1. It will be apparent that one revolution of first reel B will result in but a partial revolution of the second reel F. Thus, the flywheel H will be slowly accelerated from a rest position.

As the first reel B is rotated in a counter clockwise direction at constant speed, the ribbon E winds thereon in a spiral configuration, with the radius of the spiral approaching R-3. Concurrently, ribbon E is being unwound from second reel F, with the radius of the spiral decreasing from R-2 towards R-4. Due to the above described action the shaft 80 and flywheel H are accelerated to a high speed, but with the rate of rotation of first motor D remaining constant.

The above described operation is achieved by placing first switch 20 in the closed position to electrically energize the first motor D and drive gears 58, 56, 48 and toothed side plate 34 of first reel B. Second switch 22 is in the open position. As the ribbon E winds on first reel B and unwinds from second reel F, accelerated rotary motion is imparted to flywheel H through shaft 80 and clutch K.

When the ribbon E has unwound from second reel F to the extent that the spiral thereon has a radius of substantially R-4, the flywheel L is rotating at maximum speed, and rotary energy is removed therefrom by the power output gear 90 shown in FIG. 5. The first switch 20 is now placed in the open position, and the second switch in the closed position to electrically energize the second motor L.

The second motor L when electrically energized rotates the second reel F in a counter-clockwise direction as may be seen in FIG. 2 for ribbon E that has been transferred to first reel B to be rewound on the second reel until it occupies the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1. During the above described operation the flywheel H continues to rotate on shaft 80 due to the clutch K.

During the rewinding of the ribbon E on the second reel F the shaft will be rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as may be seen in FIG. 9, and the balls or rollers 102 will move to positions adjacent the end surfaces 98c. The balls or rollers 102 when so disposed will not impede the rotation of flywheel H on shaft 80.

The power take off gear 90 as shown in FIG. 10 is in engagement with a gear 110 on a shaft 112 that extends to clutch 114 that is actuated by conventional means such as a lever or pedal 116. The clutch has a drive shaft 118 extending therefrom that serves as a source of rotary power from the flywheel H.

In operation the flywheel H is brought up to maximum speed by use of the first reel B as previously described; with the flywheel supplying rotary power to the drive shaft 118 shown in FIG. 10. As rotary power is so supplied the rate of rotation of flywheel H will decrease. The switch 22 is now closed to complete an electric circuit to the second motor L to rewind the ribbon E on second reel F to the position shown in FIG. 1, whereupon second switch 22 is placed in the open position. During the rewind operation first switch 20 is in the open position.

When the rate of rotation of flywheel H has decreased to at least that of first reel B when the latter is driven by first motor D, the lever 116 of clutch 114 is actuated to prevent rotary power being delivered from shaft 112 to drive shaft 118 that has a load thereon. First switch 20 is now closed to complete an electric circuit to first motor D. The first reel B is now driven to unwind ribbon E from second reel F and in so doing bring flywheel H up to maximum speed. When maximum speed of flywheel H is reached the lever 116 is moved to a position for the clutch 114 to transfer rotary motion from shaft 112 to drive shaft 118. First switch 20 is now moved to the open position. Due to the clutch 114 the flywheel H may be accelerated to maximum speed without the load on drive shaft 118 being imposed thereon.

When the energy storing assembly A is to be used to drive an automotive vehicle (not shown) the drive shaft 118 will be connected to a second fly wheel H-1 that has a first power transmitting shaft 120 extending therefrom to a second standard shaft clutch 122 that is actuated by a movable member 124. A second power transmitting shaft 126 extends from second clutch 122 to a multiple speed first transmission 128 that is actuated by a movable control member 130. A third power transmitting shaft 132 extends from first transmission 128 to a second conventional transmission 134 with continuously variable speed ratios that drives a fourth power transmitting shaft 136. Fourth power transmitting shaft 136 is connected to a conventional differential 138 from which oppositely extending shaft 140 project to drive a pair of pneumatic tired wheels 142 of the vehicle (not shown).

In operation the first fly wheel H is brought up to maximum speed as previously explained with the first clutch 114 in a non power transmitting position. After first fly wheel H is brought to maximum speed the first clutch 114 is placed in a power transmitting position and second fly wheel H-1 caused to rotate.

Rotational power will be transferred from first fly wheel H to second fly wheel H-1. As such rotational power is transmitted first fly wheel H will slow down and the rate of rotation of second fly wheel H-1 will increase. When both first and second fly wheels H and H-1 are rotating at substantially the same rate first clutch 114 is returned to a non-power transmitting condition.

First fly wheel H is now free of any load and may again be accelerated to maximum speed as previously explained.

After the second fly wheel H-1 has been accelerated to the same speed as first fly wheel H, the second clutch 122 which has been in a non-power transmitting condition is placed in a power transmitting condition for shaft 126 to drive first transmission 128 which delivers rotational power to shaft 132. The second transmission 134 through shaft 136 delivers power to differential 138 to drive the pair of wheels 142.

As power is delivered to the pair of wheels 142 the rate of rotation of second fly wheel H-1 will slow down. During this slowing down the first fly wheel H has been accelerated to maximum speed by the assembly A as previously described.

When the rate of rotation of second fly wheel H-1 has decreased to a predetermined minimum first clutch 114 is placed in a power transmitting condition for first fly wheel H to accelerate second fly wheel H-1, with both fly wheels H and H-1 now supplying power to the wheels 142.

When both fly wheels H and H-1 are rotating at substantially the same speed, first clutch 114 is placed in a non-power transmitting condition and first fly wheel H again accelerated to maximum speed. During this period of acceleration second fly wheel H-1 will be supplying power to drive wheels 142. When the second fly wheel H-1 decreases to a predetermined minimum speed it is again accelerated by first fly wheel H as previously explained.

The use and operation of the invention has been explained previously in detail and need not be repeated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An energy producing fly wheel assembly that includes:a. first and second laterally spaced, transversely aligned, rotatably supported first and second reels that have first and second hubs, said second hub of substantially greater diameter than said first hub; b. an elongate coilable ribbon that extends between said first and second hubs and is secured thereto with said ribbon initially having the major portion thereof coiled on said second hub; c. a first rotatably supported shaft; d. a first fly wheel rotatably supported on said first shaft; e. first means for rotating said first fly wheel with said first shaft only when said first shaft rotates in a first direction; f. a first clutch that includes a power input and power output shaft and first movable clutch control means that can occupy either first or second positions, said first clutch transmitting rotational power from said power input to said power output shaft only when said clutch control means is in said second position; g. second means for transferring rotational power from said first fly wheel to said power input shaft; h. third means for transferring rotary motion of said second reel to said first shaft; i. fourth means for intermittently rotating said first reel to wind said ribbon thereon when said first clutch is in said first position to accelerate the rotation of said second reel, and said first shaft and first fly wheel in said first direction until substantially all of said ribbon has been removed from said first hub and said first fly wheel is rotating at a predetermined maximum velocity, with said first clutch control means thereafter being moved to said second position for rotational power from said first fly wheel to be transferred to said power output shaft; and j. fifth means for intermittently rotating said second reel in a direction to rewind said second ribbon on said second hub as said first fly wheel rotates for subsequent use in accelerating said first fly wheel to said predetermined maximum velocity.
 2. An energy producing fly wheel assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said third means includes:k. a first gear that rotates concurrently with said second reel; and l. a second gear secured to said first shaft that is in toothed engagement with said first gear.
 3. An energy producing fly wheel assembly as defined in claim 2 in which said second means includes:m. a third gear secured to said first fly wheel; and n. a fourth gear secured to said power input shaft and in toothed engagement with said third gear.
 4. An energy producing fly wheel assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said fourth means is a first electric motor operatively associated with said first reel.
 5. An energy producing fly wheel assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said fifth means is a second electric motor operatively associated with said second reel.
 6. An energy producing fly wheel assembly as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:k. a second fly wheel secured to said power output shaft that continues to rotate as said ribbon is being transferred from said first reel to said second reel; l. a driven shaft that extends from said second fly wheel and rotates concurrently therewith.
 7. An energy producing fly sheel assembly as defined in claim 6 in combination with a vehicle that includes a pair of drive wheels, said assembly including:m. a second clutch that receives rotational power from said driven shaft, a drive shaft that extends from said second clutch, a movable second clutch control that can be moved between first and second positions, said second clutch transmitting rotational power from said driven shaft to said drive shaft only when said second clutch control means is in said second position; n. a differential assembly that includes a pair of oppositely extending shafts to which said drive wheels are secured; and o. transmission means operatively associated with said drive shaft, of said second clutch and said differential assembly for delivering rotational power at a plurality of different speeds to said pair of drive wheels when said second clutch control means is in said second position. 